Wig and method of making the same



Aug. 26, 1941; J. J. MAN; 2,253,635

WIG AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed Jan. 12, 1940 Juhn J Mann Patented Aug. 26, 1941 i Application January 12 1940, Serial No. 313,51

Claims.

This invention relates to wigs and refers more particularly to an improved method of makin wigs for dolls and like figures The present practice in' making wigs for dolls consists in sewing hair either imitation or human, onto a piece of cloth of a size to fit the skull of the doll so that after the cloth containing the hair is glued to the skull a somewhat natural appearance is effected. This cloth or other suitable material to which the hair is sewn is commonly termed the skull piece or foundation of the wig.

While wigs made in accordance with this practice were generally satisfactory as far as appearance is concerned, they were invariably of a dellcate nature, and thus necessitated extreme care in handling even after it was glued in place on the skull. Any attempt to wash the hair secured to such a skull piece or foundation met with disaster, for water quickly soaked through the thin cloth of the skull piece and loosened the gluing to such an extent that it became ineflective to hold the wig securely in place. In addition, it was extremely difficult, if not impossible, to comb the hair of wigs made in this manner.

7 skull pieces, in past practice, and consequently,

if one or more hairs were accidentally removed during any attempt to comb thesame, others a wig for dolls and the like having an elastic skull piece which has sumcient resiliency to maintain itself properly assembled on the head of the doll but which permits ready assembly gnlcli removal of the wig on the head of the o i I A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a water-proof skull piece for wigs.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel process substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claims; it being lmderstood that such changes in the precise embodimerit of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one complete example of the physical embodiment of the invention in accordance with the best modes solar devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

would immediately loosen and soon fall out.

Also, it is readily apparent that the stitches which hold the hair to the wig may be caught by the teeth of the comb and torn during any attempt to comb the hair.

The inability of the child to wash and comb the hair of a doll equipped with a wig of this nature is therefore particularly objectionable for it is believed that dolls should serve the purpose of creating in a child a tendency for neatness and attractive appearance. This is obviously impossible with present day wigs, the hair of which soon becomes matted and eventually dirty.

The main object of the present invention, therefore, resides in the provision of a method for making wigs for dolls and the like wherein washing and combing of the hair may be readily accomplished without endangering the wig.

-More specifically, this invention has as one of its objects the provision of a method for securely embedding hair into a suitable skull piece or foundation so as to enable the wig to be sub mitted to treatment the same as is accorded to the hair of a human being.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method for making a wig for dolls or like figures having an elastic skull piece by which the wig may be securely held in place without glu- Another object of this invention is to provide Figure l is a view illustrating the application. of a wig constructed in accordance with the method of this invention to the head of a doll;-

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the wig illustrated in Figure 1, showing the hair embedded in the skull piece of the wig; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the skull piece iliustrating'one step in the method of embedding the hair therein.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the numeral 5 designates the head of a doll to which the wig 6 of this invention is applied.

The wig 6 comprises a skull piece or foundation I preferably formed of an elastic material such as rubber. The rubber skull piece 1 is shaped in such a manner as to tightly embrace the scalp portion of the dolls head so that its inherent resiliency maintains the wig assembled firmly on the head of the doll without the necessity for gluing.

At closely adjacent points over substantially the entire surface of the skull piece, a plurality of strands of hair 8, are. embedded therein as shown in Figure 2.

The method herein employed for fixing the hair to the skull piece of the wig is carried into effect by simultaneously embedding a plurality of strands of hair 8 at their medial portions entirely through the rubber skull piece I. from the exterior thereof so that looped portions 9, at the 'medial portions of the strands project from the interior surfaceof the skull piece.

This operation is preferably carried out by machine, although it is capable of being carried out by hand as well. In either instance, however, a needle l0, having a forked or bifurcated end portion H, is employed to project the hair into and through the skull piece.

A simple manner of embedding the hair is to arrange a plurality of strands of hair on the exterior of the skull piece so that the medial portions of a number of strands lie directly beneath the needle i0, whereupon its bifurcated end portion II will straddle a plurality of the strands of hair when it is pressed into the skull piece and carry them through to project from the underside thereof.

The skull piece 1, being of resilient material such as rubber, offers little resistance to the passage of the needle therethrough and upon withdrawal of the needle the rubber adjacent to the hole formed thereby and displaced by the needle, resumes its normal position and thereafter firmly grips the hair and holds the same substantially firmly embedded in the skull piece.

For permanency, however, it is desirable to coat the interior surface of the skull piece 8 and the loops 9 projecting therefrom with a layer of adhesive as shown at I! in Figure 2, which positively anchors the strands of hair at their looped portions 9.

In this manner, the opposite free ends of each strand of hair are left exposed on the exterior of the skull piece and inasmuch as the strands I may be of any desired length, it is possible to create any eifect desired.

made in this manner is extremely life like, as the perforations formed by the needle ll give the appearance of pores on the outer surface of the skull piece with the hair growing therefrom.

' This effect is heightened by using a needle whose forked end ii is of a proportion to pick up only about two or three strands of hair which leaves four or six lengths projecting from each pore, This is preferable as when the hair is embedded substantially close throughout the skull piece a more natural appearing wig results.

With this method of securing hair to the skull piece the needle may be passed through the skull piece or foundation in any direction to thereby enable securing the hair in the skull piece so that it projects or lays in different directions on the exterior thereof. Parts in the hair are thus easily formed.

lit is also seen that a wig made in accordance with this method and having an elastic skull piece is extremely useful for use on dolls of the sleeping type wherein weights connected with the eyelids of the doll actuate the same to a closed position when the doll is laid on its back. Dolls of this character have flattened skulls as indicated in construction lines at lIflin Figure l, with an opening in the flat portion providing access to the mechanism for controlling the eyelids. This is essential for purposes of assembly and repair.

When a doll having a head so constructed is provided with the present-day wig having a cloth skull piece it is necessary to provide a cardboard block or crown to cover the flattened portion ii, and round outthe head of the doll so that the skull piece of the wig may be attached and glued thereto. If repairs to the eye mechanism become necessary, a considerable effort must be expended in order to remove the wig for access to the' mechanism. This would entail soaking the wig until the gluing became loose enough for its removal.

A wig constructed in accordance with the present invention however, has the advantage of beingreadily removable to provide access to the mechanism controlling the eyes of sleeping dolls. In addition no false crown is necessary to block out and complete the shape of the dolls head as the rubber skull piece 1 of this invention has suflicient rigidity to at all times maintain the proper appearance of .the head.

After removal of the wig of this invention for repairs on the eye mechanism it is only nece sary to stretch the skull piece of the wig tight over the forehead and sides and back of dolls head where it will maintain itself in prope position, entirely without gluing.

Wigs made inaccordance with this invention not only permit of washing and combing without in anywise endangering the wig, but the hair may also be curled or waved as desired without danger of the hair becoming detached from the This feature therefore enables a wig made in accordance with thisinvention to be used for display purposes by beautlcians or hair-dremers, who display ooiifured heads for advertising pur- Another use for the wig of this invention is in schools where hair-dressing is taught and where formerly the pupils had recourse to only human subjects.

Inasmuch as the natural hair of a wig of this type is sterilized before being used, it follows that the use of these wigs is highly desirable from a sanitary standpoint.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that this invention provides a simple and practical method of making wigs which may be subjected to the same treatment as accorded to hair of human beings, and that wigs made in this manner are conveniently secured in position ..without necessitating gluing and thus may be removed at will.

What I claim as my invention is:

- 1. As an article in the manufacture of wigs: a substantially elastic rubber skull piece having hair embedded therein and tightly gripped by the resiliency of the rubber.

2. As an article in the manufacture of wigs: an elastic rubber skull piece having hair embedded therein and shaped to resiliently grip the skull of a doll or like figure for maintaining itself firmly-in place thereon.

3. A skull member for dolls or like figures characterized by a plurality of tufts of hair, substantially closely embedded in a resilient rubber foundation which tightly 8 1 each tuft of hair.

4. As an article of manufacture: a resilient rubber skull piece having a hollow cup-like shape so as to resiliently grip the skull of a doll or like figure to detachably maintain itself in place thereon, and having tufts of hair substantially closely embedded therein in a manner to simulate a natural growth of hair.

5. As an article of manufacture: a rubber skull member having hair closely embedded therein to simulate a natural growth of hair, said. rubber skull member having resilient characteristics so as to tightly grip the hair embedded therein.

Y JOHN J. MANN. 

